Heritage Museum Blog

REMEMBERING WORLD WAR I--Layton/Layton

Four young men from Layton gave their lives in the conflict that came to be called "The Great War."

Two of these men were cousins from Layton with the last name of Layton--Hubert Henry Layton and William Clyde Layton.

Hubert H. Layton--son of Orson and Ruth Bodily Layton was born March 22, 1891 in Layton. He married Dora Jane Dunyon and they had a daughter, Jane Ruth Layton.

Hubert was a graduate of the University of Utah and practiced law as an attorney. He was inducted into the service on April 27, 1918 in Battery B of the 348th Field Artillery. He spent three months training at Camp Lewis, Washington and then sailed overseas in July of 1918. He was stationed at Clearmont Ferand, France where he died of typhoid fever October 19, 1918. His body was buried in the American Cemetery in France, but it was later returned to Utah for final burial in the Wasatch Lawn Cemetery in Salt Lake City.

A memorial service was held for Hubert in Layton June 12, 1921, where speakers recalled the sterling qualities of this young soldier.

William C. Layton--son of Charles A. and Victoria Walker Layton was born July 11, 1895 in Layton.

He was inducted into service September 19, 1917 and was assigned to the Machine Gun Company of the 362nd Infantry, 91st Division. He trained at Camp Lewis, Washington and at Camp Merritt, New Jersey. In March of 1918, he was granted a furlough. He returned to Layton where he married Meldon Clara Kirkham who returned to Washington State with him. In May he was given another furlough, but this was cut short by an immediate call back to Camp Merritt. He sailed overseas July 5, 1918.

On the night of July 23rd at Bonniers, France, a small village about forty miles north of Paris, the troop train on which his company was riding was struck in the rear by a heavily loaded freight train. William was among several soldiers who lost their lives in the train wreck. William was killed instantly.

In July of 1921, his body was returned to Utah where it was buried in the Kaysville City Cemetery.